Like A Brazen Wall by Ewan Carmichael - Book Review

Those of you of a certain vintage and from the UK may recall an advert for milk from the late 1980's where two young whippersnappers talk about the benefits of the juice of the moo-cow. By drinking milk, you could be worthy of playing for Liverpool, and if you didn't then you'd only be good enough for Accrington Stanley. Indeed, who are they? (Thanks to Wikipedia, this is who they are in case you were interested...)

Anyway, the reason for the diversion is that, prior to reading Ewan Carmichael's excellent tome on the Battle of Minden, my appreciation of the British Army's involvement in that fight was pretty similar to those lad's opinion of two football clubs. The infantry were obviously Liverpool and the cavalry were Accrington Stanley. As noted above, after the battle was over, the rest of the combatants may have asked a similar question (although maybe/maybe not in a Scouse accent): "The British Cavalry? Who are they?" This book, gentle reader, will answer that question.

The Battle of Minden occupies a key part of the British narrative of the Seven Years War (aka French-Indian War, 3rd Carnatic War). Here was a battle that involved British troops in mainland Europe, which in turn was one of many theatres Britain found itself fighting in. Reputations were forged and legacies destroyed, and the author has written a clear and balanced account of not only the battle itself, but where it fits within the history of the wider conflict. 

The book begins with scene setting and providing that strategic context. This is important as Britain, whilst dealing with two other major theatres (as well as the naval struggle), also had to maintain a presence in Europe, and that wasn't easy. We then get an appreciation of the French and Allied armies of the period, as well as the personalities of the battle itself. Theatre context comes next, then a description of the locale around Minden. Once the set up is out of the way, we get to manoeuvres and fighting.

The Battle of Gohfield is presented first, as it is very much connected to the events of Minden. Minden itself is described with great clarity and uses numerous first hand accounts. The immediate aftermath and the butchers bill are then detailed, before we get to the courtroom proceedings of Sackville's court martial. The main section of the book ends with the strategic effects of the battle, a retrospective of the battle within the context of the Seven Years War and a modern day guide to visiting the battlefield.

The appendices are a sight to behold, giving a timeline of events (which is very handy), the orders of battle for both Minden and Gohfield, details of the combatants uniforms, the (very long) orders given by Contades, and finally the account of the Comte de Lusace. A very comprehensive bibliography tops the whole lot off. 

There are numerous images and maps, as well as a colour section for some uniform plates. The present day photography, although lacking in colour, is well done and ties in fittingly with the description of the historical action. 

Having read a couple of other accounts of this battle since buying this book, I will say that in my humble opinion, this is the best so far. Every action and counter action is described with detail and lucidity, and at no point do you feel lost as to who is where and what they were (or were not) doing. For the historian and warmer alike, this makes Like A Brazen Wall an essential purchase no matter whether your interest lies in Minden itself or the wider conflict. Also apparent is the author's background, focusing where appropriate, on the topic of medical support, a necessary and important subject that can be forgotten or glossed over. 

It was also interesting for the coverage on Sackville, who although he had his faults, was treat harshly (I feel) due to the politics of the day. Alas, there are few, if any, perfect commanders, and as readers will be well aware, the history of conflict is littered with poor taken or missed chances.

Like A Brazen Wall is another superb release from Helion & Co and joins my growing collection of books of the subject of 18th Century warfare. Fans of history will enjoy the detail and the depiction of the battle, whilst wargamers can enjoy the same as well as the orders of battle that will help you in putting troops on the table. You can purchase Like A Brazen Wall directly from the publisher or from the usual online retailers.